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11th Cavalry
the rebels leaving the forts as soon as the Tanks' gave the whoop which always precedes a charge, so that when we arrived at the tort we wore much surprised to see it evacuated. The rebels retreated from it in such haste that they did not even spike their guns (two 40-pounder brass guns), or destroy the caissons and ammunition belonging to the same. Shortly after a deserter came into our
lines and reported that the enemy were evacuating the place. At early day-break Colonel Brown, at the head of his brigade, marched upon Saltville and found the place evacuated, the ' Johnnies' having left for the mountains during the night. At 8 o'clock all the troops had entered the town and commenced the work of destroying the salt works which the enemy have defended for the past four years with great energy, as it is the only place in the Confederacy where salt is obtained; consequently they were almost of inestimable value to the rebels.
Civil War
Page 44
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